Latest from SowetanLIVE
SowetanLIVE
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SowetanLIVE
Brenda Mntambo serenades music lovers at live show, The Rivival
Singer and songwriter Brenda Mtambo performs at her Live experience show – The Revival! at Soweto Theatre on Friday night. Image: Veli Nhlapo
SowetanLIVE
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- SowetanLIVE
Thrive Student Living uses art to put the heart into new Joburg res
Sleep, study, eat. Sleep, study, eat. Sleep, study ... art? For tertiary-level scholars studying in Johannesburg, far away from their roots and often with the weight of their family's expectations on their young shoulders, the chance to find beauty and breathing space amid the relentless learning may seem like a fanciful dream. However, at Thrive Student Living's new Arteria Parktown 500-bed student residence, the art is right there in — even on — their custom-built home away from home. Local poet, healer and multidisciplinary artist Thobile Mavuso was commissioned by Thrive Student Living to create a mural for the R200m Arteria Parktown property and designed a unique artwork that encapsulates both the displacement and excitement of student life in 'res'. The piece is fittingly titled Ukuzilanda Ukuzilandela Nokuzelapha, which loosely translates as 'to return to one's roots is to care for and heal oneself'. For Mavuso — who is now doing a master's degree in Fine Art at the University of the Witwatersrand — those roots are in her Ndebele background, echoes of which are found in her vibrant yet restful mural. Painted on an internal courtyard wall in acrylic, using a palette of teal, yellow ochre, red and green, this vast piece features a circle of connected figures in traditional headdress ... or perhaps a tangle of opening flowers ... or perhaps a patchwork of homesteads amid fields ... Whatever, it begs to be looked at, to be contemplated. And that is precisely the point.
SowetanLIVE
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- SowetanLIVE
Hanging out with Harrison Mkhize
From campus radio to Gagasi FM and now 5fm, the broadcaster and musician is making waves. Falling in love with radio Every time I travelled in a taxi or private vehicle, radio was part of the journey to school. It became such a good companion. I grew up in a township and went to a former model-C school — leaving the township and going into the city, there was almost a mental cleansing that happened. You had to present a particular image and be 'white' to fit in at school. But I found that radio calmed me to be myself. I realised that it was a platform to connect with people even when we were far apart. Biggest radio trends right now Being yourself remains a trend that sets radio apart; people connect with authenticity. Other platforms are integrating with radio. The conversation on social media is delayed because the post needs to gain traction, but on radio the point goes viral almost immediately. South Africa is a communal society and we are always plugging each other; radio provides that platform where people can hear the latest, biggest, and favourite songs. Edgy content that pushes boundaries is a trend too. Radio personalities can be provocative. Cancel culture doesn't happen a lot in radio because there is room for perspective and it's a safe space, as long as you keep it respectful and honest. How the youth can break into radio
SowetanLIVE
2 days ago
- Business
- SowetanLIVE
From gap to growth: tangible shifts in SMME funding
We know that SMMEs are engine drivers in SA's economy and job creation. The World Bank forecasts that four out of five new jobs over the next 15 years will be created by SMMEs, while the National Development Plan projects they'll contribute up to 80% of SA's GDP by 2030. A staggering proportion considering that this segment of the economy is largely underserved. Positively, there are more funding solutions available now than there ever have been before. And as more funding options become available it is vital that education around securing relevant funding from reputable financiers is prioritised. Websites such as Finfind assist in securing the right kind of help from credible providers, and organisations such as SME SA and the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller provide mentorship, training, access and business assistance to small business owners. The National Financial Literacy Association plays a key role in addressing the challenge of financial literacy and inadequate record-keeping through impactful, data-driven initiatives. More businesses are also investing in the SMME sector to drive change among entrepreneurs. This was emphasised in the support of young business owners over Youth Month, contributing to the 30% of SMME owners under the age of 35. Future-focused finance solutions There are many alternative solutions available to SMMEs, but knowing what to choose and why is where many business owners fall short. Digitised options that are focused on the opportunity rather than credit history are where alternative providers are delivering impact-driven financing in a way that meets the needs of SMMEs. Traditional lenders, like commercial banks, have expanded SMME product offerings and many are running tailor-made programmes targeted at business owners across crucial sectors such as agriculture and retail. Fintechs like Sourcefin offer fast, tech-enabled solutions that can deliver fast capital that supports the entrepreneur along their business journey, and blended finance models are becoming more common. When it comes to alternative solutions, revenue-based funding is gaining popularity, enabling SMMEs to grow and build with the backing of invested capital for a percentage of earnings. Similarly, merchant cash advances offer lending through point of sale, unlocking funds that are paid back to the lender at each transaction. For those requiring a large amount of capital to fulfil tenders or contracts, purchase order funding is a valuable solution that pays suppliers upfront, releasing SMMEs from the financial constraints that may be experienced due to insufficient cash flow or inventory. This solution should be structured to ensure that the lender is only repaid once the order has been paid by the borrower's customer, so that any profits can be reinvested back into growing the business. In addition, invoice discounting provides a forward-focused solution that unlocks funding (usually determined as a percentage of the invoice value), which is paid directly to the SMME who may be required to wait 30, 60, or even 90 days for payment from their client. Generally, interest is charged on the capital outlay, but structures vary depending on the needs of the business and the lender. Reformed regulations to public-private partnerships Regulatory bottlenecks and procurement barriers continue to stifle small businesses, but there is hope. In the recent budget speech, the finance minister Enoch Godongwana outlined a fiscal strategy focused on unlocking infrastructure investment and stimulating economic growth.
SowetanLIVE
2 days ago
- SowetanLIVE
Defence force clerk and five others in court after 'ghost workers' uncovered
A South African National Defence Force (SANDF) reserve force member, Thandile Ndevu, and five co-accused appeared in the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court on Thursday to face charges of defrauding the force of R1.1m. Ndevu, 33, is charged with 53 counts of fraud or theft and 53 counts of money laundering. Human resources clerk Khanya Ndevu, 29, and Thembisile Dlamini, 36, are each facing 11 counts of fraud or theft and 11 counts of money laundering. Avuyile Ndzuta, 30, is facing 10 counts of fraud or theft, and 10 counts of money laundering, and Yonelisa Gova, 30, is facing 21 counts fraud or theft and 21 counts of money laundering. Thandile Ndevu, Khanya Ndevu and Ndzuta are cousins, while Dlamini and Loni are married. Gova is said to be friends with Thandile Ndevu. Thandile Ndevu's responsibilities included calling reserve force employees for service, capturing on the system reserve force members who reported for duty as well as capturing their banking details on the system. Between July 2018 and July 2019, it is alleged she captured on the system details of reserve force members as though they had reported for duty and replaced their banking details with those of her co-accused. 'This was discovered after one of the complainants whose details were used filed her tax return at Sars and discovered that she had two IRP5 forms she needed to submit instead of just the one she had taken. 'The complainant went to the SANDF and that's when the four ghost workers were discovered,' said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana. The matter was postponed to August 15 for plea and trial. TimesLIVE
